TREATMENT OF NICKEL DERMATITIS - INFLUENCE OF TETRAETHYLTHIURAMDISULFIDE (ANTABUSE) ON NICKEL METABOLISM

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 10  (2) , 160-164
Abstract
Ni is the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in females. The dermatitis can be maintained by direct contact and ingestion of Ni. In 9 of 17 patients suffering from dermatitis, a diet with a low Ni content improved their condition. Eleven patients with chronic Ni hand dermatitis were given a daily dosage of 200-400 mg of tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (Antabuse). Antabuse was metabolized to the Ni chelating substance sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. In 8 patients, the dermatitis cleared. Measurements of serum and urine Ni were performed in 6 patients. One week after the start of the Antabuse treatment, the urine Ni rose from 1-3.6 .mu.g/24 h to 8.3-76.0 .mu.g/24 h. The serum Ni rose from 0.26-0.80 .mu.g/1 to 2.0-7.7 .mu.g/1. In 4 patients the serum Ni exhibited a declining tendency during the treatment period. Antabuse is apparently able to reduce Ni deposits in man.